00 | Introduction

Welcome. My name is Helana Sawires and I’m an Egyptian-Australian actress and visual artist.

My grandparents, or Geddo and Tetta,

migrated to Australia in 1966 and we grew up together on Gadigal land of the Eora Nation.

Ancient Egyptian civilisation, with its vast history and culture, has long been a source of fascination for people around the world.

Spanning millennia, it witnessed the rise and fall of pharaohs, dynasties, states and empires.

The Egyptians constructed some of the world’s most magnificent structures and produced iconic works of art.

The Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, in Leiden, the Netherlands, has one of the world’s finest collections of Egyptian antiquities.

Discovering Ancient Egypt focuses on new ways of thinking about ancient Egyptian culture made possible by excavation, 3D-scanning and other research by the National Museum of Antiquities and their partners.

You will come across more than 200 objects that convey the compelling story of how ancient Egyptian people lived, with insights into culture and society.

Learn about the history of these objects and how they were collected.

Discover the work of museum researchers and cultural custodians in Egypt and beyond.

This audio tour highlights key stops from the exhibition.

They have been selected for the fascinating details they reveal about how ancient Egyptian people lived, the beliefs that informed their activities and the intriguing customs they practiced, guaranteeing an everlasting afterlife.

I’ve visited Egypt many times and this exhibition for me is further living proof of the many tales that my ancestors have lived and whispered to me and my family.

I hope you feel the wonder and rich history on your journey today through ancient Egypt.